Improvement in trusses



- Z-Sheets-Sheath J. R. ALEXANDER;

muss.

No. 192,141 Patented Jun 19,1877.

N. PETERS. PHOTOLITHOGRAFHER, WASHINGTON. I}. O.

. ZSheets-ShEet 2.. J. R. ALEXANDER.

' muss. No. 192,141 "Patented June19,1877.

N. PETERS. PHCTO-LITHQGRAPHER, WASHINGTON D. C,

UNITED STATES support, is to provide forthe treatment of PATENT ()FFIGE.

JOHN R. ALEXANDER, OF MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA:

IMPROVEMENT IN TRUSSES.

. Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 192, [41,

January 31, 1877.

' i To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that I, J OHN RoBINsoN ALEX- ANDER, M. D., of the city ofMontreal, in the district of Montreal and Province of Quebec, Canada,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trusses andAbdominal Supports; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of the same.

The object of my invention, which I term an electro galvano-magnetictruss or abdominal hernia, prolapsus uteri, and like complaints. Itrelates, primarily, to trusses the band of which is made of uutemperedmetal straps.

My improvement may be briefly described as consisting, mainly, of ametallic band, fitting the body, and made in two parts, joined togetherat the back by a hinge, arranged so as to be adjustable as to length,and secured together in front by a sleeve, and upon this band is placedthe pressure-pads; but, for fuller comprehension ofthe invention,reference must be had to the annexed drawings, in which- Figure lis aplan view of the truss. Fig. 2

Fig. 3 is an enis a front view of the truss. larged detail view of theback hinge. Fig. 4 is a section through the back hinge. Fig. 5isasectioual elevation of pressure-pad. Fig. 6 is a view of my inventionarranged as an abdominal support. Fig. 7 is a front view of an abdominalsupport.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

A A are the pieces which form the band or fulcrum of the truss, madepreferably of metal, and arranged soas to fit easily and com fortablyaround the body and over the hips. If desired, this may, for greaterease to the wearer, be covered with chamois leather or other softsubstance. These pieces A A are secured together at the back by means ofa piece, B, hinged as shown at b, on either side of the hinge beingformed, as shown in Fig. 3, any suitable number of holes, 0, and,farther from the center, a slot, D. Upon each of the pieces A is formeda pin, E, projecting slightly beyond its face, 'so' that when the partsare in position it will j ust catch in any one of the holes O. G G arescrews secured to the pieces A A dated June 19, 1877; application filedin such positions as to be adjustable in the slots D, tapped so as topass through them, and threaded into eyes G formed in plates H, coveredwith chamois leather or other suitable substance, as at I, so as to formpads, which press on either side of the spine of the wearer.

When it is required to adjust the length of the band A all that isnecessary to be done is, by turning the plates H, to slightly loosen thescrews G sufliciently to release the pins E K is a junction-piece Elanwhen the truss is in position, will fi nthe center of the front of thebody, ho w to receive the front ends of the pieces which, in this case,are secured therein by springs a, as shown. Instead of these springs,screws maybe used; but the former will be found by the wearer a far moresimple and convenient way of fastening on the truss. L are thepressure-pads for hernia, of metal, the composition of which will bepresently described. The pad proper L, which is generally of some suchform as that shown in the drawings, but may be altered to suit varyingrequirements of patients, has secured inside it, and projecting somewhatbeyond the outside face, a pin, M, on which plays a sleeve, N, havingone end turned down, as shown at N, within the body of the pad, and athread being cut on the other to screw into the screwed extension 0 of aring, 0, sliding upon the band A, and secured thereon in any desiredposition by means of a set-screw, P. Q is the springwhich gives thenecessary pressure to the pad, bearing against the face L, the wholearrangement of the pin, sleeve, and spring being such as to exert auniform and steady pressure on the injured part, never varying indirection, and incapable of being displaced by any motion of the body.The spring used may be either, as shown in the drawings, pyramidal, oran oval flat spring, ora full or semicircular spring, and of thestrength required by the necessities of the wearer.

The pressure-pads L L may be of metal producing no medical effect but Iprefer, in

nearly all cases, to render them either magnetic or galvanic in theiraction--in the former case by making the pad of any of the magneticmetals and then magnetizing it; but in the latter instance, or wheregalvanic action is required, the pads will be composed in equalproportions of any two or more metals which, in combination, are,respectively, electro-positives and electro-negatives to each other.

Although I have mentioned that the two metals-t. 0., theelectro-positive and electronegative-will, in the galvanic pad, be equalto each other, it must be clearly understood that I do not confinemyself exactly to these proportions, as they may be altered to suitvarying conditions of age, sex, disease, and strength of patient.

The construction of my invention when used as an abdominal support willbe precisely similar to that for the treatment of hernia, with theexception that the pressure-pads L L are omitted and a plate, It, isattached to thepiece K (in this case made somewhat longer) by pins Spassing through it, and having caps or nuts S on the outside, thenecessary pressure being given by means of springs T, of the a kindalready described for the pads L. This plate R maybe either of plainmetal, magnetic, or galvanic, may be varied in shape to-suit the form ofthe wearer.

Having thus described the nature and conas before described, and

struction of my invention, what I claim is as follows:

1. A truss or abdominal support the band of which is composed of twountemperedmetal straps, (not springs,) hinged together at one end andadjustably connected together at the other end, substantially as and forthe purpose specified.

2.-In any truss or abdominal support, the combination, with thejunction-piece K, of the pieces A A, received therein and secured bysprings or, substantially as described.

3. In any truss or abdominal support, the combination, with the sidepieces A A, each provided with a pin and screw, of the piece B, hingedand perforated, and the plates H, with or without pads I, allsubstantially as herein set forth, and for the purposes described.

4. The combination, substantially as specified, of the pad L, thecentral pin M, fixed thereto, the fastening-ring 00, the flanged sleeveN, secured to said ring, and the spring Q.

5. The combination, with the band A and junction-piece K, of theabdominal support R, secured thereon by pins S and nut S, and providedwith springs for pressure, substantially as herein described.

J. a. ALEXANDER, M. D.

Witnesses:

FRAS. HY. REYNOLDS, RoB'r. ARTHUR. KELLOND.

